Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
Guiding - Accommodation - Dates and rates - More infos / booking

* You can take part in 1 of the 2 weeks only if you want.

Saturday
Meeting with our guides at Tucson airport at 07:00 pm, transfer to our camp in the Foothills of the Sierrita Mountains.

Sunday
After a hardy cowboy breakfast we'll have a brief pre-ride meeting and than select our horses for the next one or two weeks. We'll saddle up and go for a introductory ride around camp. In the afternoon we'll drive to the Desert Museum (no stuffed animals; it's a zoo with all those creepy, crawling, flying and biting desert inhabitants) and maybe do a quick stop in town for some last minute shopping on the way back to camp.
(approx. 15 miles)

Monday
We'll explore the surrounding Sierrita Mountains and might get a closer look at some of those creature we saw yesterday without a fence in between. One more night will be spent in the Sierrita mountains.
(4-6 h, 16 miles)

Tuesday
We'll ride through some of the largest cattle ranches of the southwest to our next camp by Pozo Nuevo. This ride will lead us through the typical Sonoran desert with majestic Saguaros and other cacti (watch out for those Jumping cactus; they got their name for a reason).
(6-8 h, 20 miles)

Wednesday
Today we'll discover a different Arizona. The cacti soon give way to the grass covered plains of the Buenos Aires wildlife refuge. Antelopes, a diversity of deer, Javalinas and any number of smaller creatures inhabit this area. Our camp is setup for one of those vacation sunset photographs.
(6-8 h, 20 miles)

Thursday
A long days ride will take us by Yellow Jacket and to Arivaca Lake. Prepare yourself for a 7 mile long canter along a beautiful sand wash and the increasing mountain terrain with endless views. There will be an opportunity to go for a refreshing swim at the lake after the ride.
(8-9 h, 25 miles)

Friday
A long ride along the Mexican Border to Pena Blanca will take us by Ruby (a historic mining town turned ghost town) and to Sycamore canyon, where we can look for goedes in the midst of an impressive canyon. (8-9 h, 25 miles)
First week guests will be transferred back to Tucson in the evening and spend the night at the Hotel near Tucson's airport.

Saturday
This day is reserved for transfers of one week guests from and to the airport. For the two weekers there'll be an opportunity to do some shopping in the border town Noglaes and a afternoon ride along the Arizona trail from Patagonia into Gardner Canyon at the base of Mt. Wrightston.
(1-4 h, up to 12 miles if time permits)
The guests who come for the 2nd week only are transfer from Tucson and meet the group in the evening, just in time for dinner.

Sunday
We'll follow the Arizona trail north to Kentucky Camp ( another historic mining depot). Still working Gold mines and steep mountain trails will make this ride an unforgettable adventure. We'll return to Gardner Canyon via the steep but scenic Aliso springs trail.
(6-8 h, 18 miles)

Monday
We continue our trail south along the Arizona trail into Patagonia. this will be an interesting mountain climb following an old Aqueduct to the top of Mt Wrightston and descending into Patagonia. Camp along the access trailhead.
(approx. 20 miles, and lots of climbing)

Tuesday
In the morning we will ride through the town of Patagonia until we hit the Arizona trail into Red Rock Canyon. From there we follow the trail up to the historic ranching land of the San Raphael valley into the Canelo Hills.
(approx. 25 miles)

Wednesday
In the morning we'll take a short drive to Tombstone for some more excitement. After a 'real' gunfight at the Helldorado we'll head out into the Dragoon mountains where we spend another afternoon riding through very picturesque rock sculptures of Apache country.
(2 h, 6 miles)

Thursday
Today we'll follow the trails of the Apache chief Cochise. The ride over the stronghold divide, a ride to Halfmoon tank, and up the hidden trail the Cavalry used to find the renegades, will take us around the entire mountain range, back to camp.
( 9-10 h, 28 miles)

Friday
IThe final ride today will lead us up the rocky slopes of Slavin Gulch to the old Chinaman's mine. One last impression of the wild west and we'll return to Tucson for a farewell dinner. The last night will be spent at the hotel near Tucson's airport.
(3-4 h, 10 miles).

Saturday
Breakfast and day at leisure.
Transfer at Tucson airport (to be booked and paid directly on the spot) to take your return flight.

 

CROSSING ARIZONA...
(2 weeks, you can also book only 1 week)

Day 1 - Saturday
Pick up at Tucson Airport and transport to camp in the Huachuca Mtns, close to the Mexican border.

Day 2 - Sunday
We'll pick out our horses for the next 2 weeks and go for an introductory ride along the Arizona trail south into the Miller Peak Wilderness area. Incredible views of the surrounding mountains and the San Pedro Valley await us . In the evening a great meal at our camp near Parker Canyon Lake.
(approx. 15 miles)

Day 3 - Monday
Today we start our journey north along the Arizona trail. We’ll follow the old mining roads over grass covered hills and scenic canyons through the Canelo Hills where we camp at Canelo Pass for the night.
(approx. 18 miles)

Day 4 - Tuesday
We continue our ride through Red Rock Canyon into Harshaw Canyon just outside of the sleepy little mining town of Patagonia where we spend the night.
(approx. 28 miles)

Day 5 - Wednesday
Today's ride will lead us over old mining roads up into the Mt. Wrightson Wilderness area. We’ll be climbing another 2000 feet on a small mountain trail and descend into Gardner Canyon via a historic aqueduct. Camp in Gardner Canyon.
(approx. 25 miles)

Day 6 - Thursday
We'll take a break from moving camp and do a relaxing all day loop ride along some mines up Melendrez pass.
(approx. 20 miles)

Day 7 - Friday
This ride will be nice and scenic one on relatively level terrain. We’ll stop at Kentucky Camp, (a historic mining camp) for lunch and then ride through oak pine and rich grass lands to Greaterville and on to Rosemont junction where we will camp for the night.
(approx. 18 miles)
First week guests will be transferred back to Tucson in the evening and spend the night at the Hotel near Tucson's airport.

Day 8 - Saturday
Today we transfer everybody to our new camp at Battleaxe rd. near Superior. A short afternoon ride to the Gila river for a refreshing swim.
(approx. 10 miles)
The guests who come for the 2nd week only are transfer from Phoenix and meet the group in the evening, just in time for dinner.

Day 9 - Sunday
Today we traverse the scenic white canyon wilderness area. A almost invisible path will lead us up and over a ridge into Alamo canyon and further to our camp on the foot of the impressive Picket Post range.
(approx. 30 miles)

Day 10 - Monday
From our camp at Picket Post we cross some spectacular Sonoran Desert west of Superior to our next camp at Reavis trail. Rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters, coyotes and many other Desert animals call this area around our campsite their home.
(approx. 25 miles)

Day 11 - Tuesday
Initially we will follow the same steep mountain trail fruit grower Elisha Reavis took many years ago supplying solitary miners in the Superstitions up to Rogers Trough. This trail have been named after him. We pass by the old and isolated JT Ranch and follow a rocky trail through Frazier canyon to our next camp at Peralta.
(approx. 30 miles)

Day 12 - Wednesday
Today we ride through this naturally landscaped Saguaro gardens to Hieroglyphic Canyon where earlier inhabitants left impressive amounts of rock paintings. In the late afternoon we return to our camp at Peralta.
(approx. 16 miles)

Day 13 - Thursday
We follow the Lost Dutchman trail around the dominant peak called Weaver's Needle on to First Water where we'll spend the night. It is told a prospector named Jacob Waltz, "the Lost Dutchman" had a rich gold mine deep in the rugged mountains east of Apache Junction. But no one knows where is this "Dutchman's lost mine" and that has fired the imaginations of men and women for more than a century.
(approx. 30 miles)

Day 14 - Friday
For our last day we undertake another rough and spectacular ride to Canyon Lake. the last evening we spend around the campfire in First Water one more time after a delicious farewell dinner.
This will end the "2 weeks" trail. Guests will be transported to hotel in Phoenix after dinner Friday evening.
(approx. 20 miles)

Day 15 - Saturday
Breakfast and day at leisure.
Transfer at Phoenix airport (to be booked and paid directly on the spot) to take your return flight.

Important : Itineraries and rides may slightly change according to weather, condition of the horses, availability of the Indian guide and level of the riders. Camp sites and lunch spots can be altered. The guide reserves the right for these changes.

Horses
The horses are mainly Arab purebreds crossed with the traditional horses of the American West: Appaloosas and Quarter horse. Also the horses are from Appaloosas, to Arabians, Quarter Horses, Mustangs and Missouri foxtrotters.
All of them are used to the steep relief.
Certain horses are specialists in Reining and other particularities of the western horsemanship. If you want to, Dominique will initiate you into those particularities with great pleasure.
Also, some of this horses are used to do endurance ride and so you will be sure to always have fitted and well trained horses.

Tack
The tack is western with comfortable cordura saddles. Briddle are hackamors.
Saddlebag are provided on this ride.

Required riding level
The trail rides' rhythm is quite intensive, from 5 to 7h each day in the saddle, but they can adapt themselves to the level of each one. However, it is necessary to be able to easily manage a horse at the 3 paces, to have certain endurance in the saddle, and to know how to look after your horse (grooming, saddling, and unsaddling).

Accompanied kids from 12 years old are welcomed if they have the necessary riding level and are fit enough to follow the ride. We accept non accompagnied teenagers from 16 years old.

Our guides, Dominique and Ron speak German, English and some of French. Dominique comes from Germany and Ron comes from Arizona.
They organise horseback trip in Arizona for years now and welcome international riders and know very well the South West of America.

Dominique is the one who mostly lead the ride and also which take care of the horses (blacksmith among others) and Ron is the cooker all along the ride.

Accomodation
Nights are spent in comfortable roomy 3-4 person tents , with rubber mattresses, pillows and a trailer with the toilet equipment (hot shower but with limited water).
The last night of the ride is spend in hotel near the airport as it allow you to departure when ever you want.

Meals
Full american breakfast is provided to well begin the day : pancakes, maple syrup, fruits, bacon, eggs, jam, bread...
In the morning, you have to prepare your lunch which will be carried in the saddle bag and allows you to chose your meal as you desire.
Dinner will be prepared by Ron and served at the camp.

You have to know that alcohol-free beverages (water, soda, fruit juice...) are provided on the trail.
If you want alcohol beverage, you have to buy it before going on the trail.

Following Apache Footprints 2010
October 16 to 30 - 2 weeks	2130 €	1 seat left
October 16 to 23 - 1st week	1380 €	2 seats left
October 23 to 30 - 2nd week	1380 €	1 seat left

Arizona Trail - 2010
November 06 to 20 - 2 weeks	2120 €	fully booked
November 06 to 13 - 1st week	1370 €	fully booked
November 13 to 20 - 2nd week	1290 €	fully booked

Single room/tent supplement
Only for riders who ask for a single room. Those who are willing to share, will not pay the supplement even if they are finally in a single tent/room.
If you really need a single room and tent, a 160 euros supplement (for one week) or 320 € (for two weeks) will be add at your reservation.

Flights to Phoenix or Tucson (Arizona)
Please contact us to check the best available rate from your country.

Very hot in summer (38°C) in the region of Tucson where we move, which explains that our rides take place from September to May.

Even in January, the temperatures vary between 18 and 21°C in the afternoon, and it freezes rarely in the night.
Where the steep mountains meet with the Sonoran Desert, low altitude variations are enough to lead to substantial fluctuations in the climate. Allow even so clothes allowing you to brave all the climatic situations.